Garment for use with portable electronic devices connected with wiring to one or more earphones

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a garment which allows a user to manage through the garment wiring extending between one or more earphones and a portable electronic device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a garment and more particularly is concerned with a garment which is designed to hold and carry a portable electronic device which is connected to one or more earphones using one or more wires.

Although the invention may be applied to any type of portable electronic device including PDAs, MP3's, cell phones, or the like, for convenience sake it shall be described herein in terms of a phone/MP3 player.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Currently in widespread use are portable electronic devices which allow a user to play music for the users enjoyment through one or more earpieces. Generally these earpieces are connected to the portable electronic device using one or more wires. In use the wires extend from the portable electronic device to a head of the user over clothing worn by the user. Although this is normally the most convenient way of connecting the earpieces with the portable electronic device, the positioning of the wires outside the clothing quite often leads to the wires getting in the way of duties, for example while working or exercising, or hooking onto objects in close proximity to the user. This could result in the user having to stop what the user is doing to untangle or unhook the wires from the object. In worst cases momentum prevents the user from stopping before the earpieces are ripped from the user's ears which can be quite painful.

Consequently, in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of the wiring associated with portable electronic devices catching accidentally onto objects, garments have been devised which allow at least a portion of the wires to be accommodated inside the garment. An example of such a garment is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,519,192 having a hooded portion which includes a number of passageways one of which extends around a border of the hooded portion. The wires of the earphones are threaded through the passageways thereby reducing the likelihood of the wires catching accidentally onto an object. However, given the construction of the passageways, it can be quite difficult to thread the earphone wires correctly through the interconnecting passageways. Furthermore, the portion of the earphone wires extending from a rear of the hood or cap of this invention, in some versions of the invention, is left exposed which could result in the exposed wire catching onto an obstacle especially one which a user might have difficulty in seeing such as one behind the user. Additionally, when the wires are fully extended from the portable electronic device to the earpieces such as when the earpieces are engaged with the ears of the user, it can easily happen that movement of the user's head, hood or cap is restricted due to the tugging of the head, hood or cap through the fully extended wire on the portable electronic device located elsewhere on the garment.

A further development in garment designs is the incorporating of a wire which is permanently secured to the garment and which allows a portable electronic device to be connected to the cable of the garment without requiring the cable to be inserted and removed each time when needed. An example of such a garment can be found in WO 2008/081312 which includes a cable which is permanently secured to the garment and which allows, at one end of the cable, a portable electronic device to be electrically connected to the cable. An opposed end of the cable can be electrically connected to earphones of the portable electronic device. This allows music produced by the portable electronic device to be played through the earphones without requiring the earphones to be directly connected to the electronic portable device. This invention suffers from a number of drawbacks including requiring a multi-type adapter which allows the cable to be engageable with different types of portable electronic devices. Also, connecting a typical earphone to the opposite end of the cable would lead to wires of the earphone dangling in front of the user which increases the chance of these wires catching onto obstacles.

In other developments in garments the focus was on the interconnectivity of the portable electronic device with the garment structures. An example of such a garment can be found in US patent publication number 2006/0280322 which provides a system for interfacing electronic devices with a garment having at least one connector, a conductive material, and at least one user interface. As the at least one connector, conductive material and user interface are permanently secured to the garment, use of such a garment over an extended period of time quite possibly lead to these components becoming inoperative due to extensive and prolonged use. When this happens, the garment most likely will have to be disposed of due to the integral connection of these components to the garment. Furthermore, the use of the garment may be limited to specific portable electronic devices which have appropriate connections which allow the portable electronic devices to connect with the componentry of this garment. This may be undesirable.

Generally problems associated with existing garments capable of being used with portable electronic devices include lacking convenient management of the headphone wires, earpieces or other components which are associated with these portable electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to at least partly overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

The invention broadly provides a garment which allows wiring connecting the portable electronic device to one or more earphones to be managed on the garment including at least one of the following:

-   -   providing a guide mechanism which allows the wiring to be moved         along a predetermined path relative to a collar of the garment;     -   providing an internal pathway on the garment which includes at         least one organizing section which controls the coiling of the         wiring inside the internal passage; and     -   providing a clamp mechanism the use of which allows the user to         readily determine when one of the one or more earphones have         been moved to an extended position.

In one embodiment, the invention extends to a garment for use with a portable electronic device connected with wiring to one or more earphones; the garment including a body having a collar; and wherein the collar includes a guide mechanism which extends at least partly along a length of the collar and which assists in movement of a wire connecting at least one of the earphones to the portable electronic device between an extended position at which the respective earphone is capable of being engaged with an ear of a user and a storage position at which the respective earphone is stored on the collar; whereby the guide mechanism guides the movement of the wire relative to the collar thereby to cause the wire to be drawn in a predetermined path.

Within the meaning of this specification the term “earphone” is meant to include any reference to an electronic earpiece which is capable of producing sound from an electronic signal and which is capable of being suspended from an ear of a user including inserting the earpiece into the ear canal of the ear or hooking or clipping the earpiece onto an outer part or auricle of the ear.

Within the meaning of the specification the term “wiring” includes any reference to wiring which may consist solely of wiring extending between the earphones and the portable electronic device or which may include other componentry including microphones and other types of controls such as volume controls, automatic retraction controls or the like.

The guide mechanism may extend from a first end of the collar to an opposed, second of the collar.

The guide mechanism may include at least three pulleys which are secured at spaced apart locations along the length of the collar.

The positions of the pulleys are chosen in order to assist movement of a wire of one of the earphones to be drawn along the predetermined path adjacent to the collar.

The collar may be formed to have at least one strip of material; and wherein the at least one strip of material includes an outer side to which the at least three pulleys are secured. The outer side may be lined with a material which reduces friction which may be caused by movement of the wires of the earphones across the outer side.

The collar may be formed to have a first strip of material and a second strip of material which extends from the first strip of material and which is moved relative to the first strip of material so that the second strip of material lies adjacent the first strip of material thereby to create an inner cavity between the adjacent first and second strips of material. In one embodiment of the invention, the guide mechanism operates inside the inner cavity.

Each of the at least three pulleys may be secured at least on one side of the first strip of material thereby guiding the movement of the wire relative to the collar inside the inner cavity.

Each of the at least three pulleys may be secured at each side to one of the first and second strips of material thereby to increase the rigidity of the collar through the at least three pulleys.

Each of the at least three pulleys may include a first casing, a second casing, and a pulley wheel which is mounted between the first and second casings for rotational movement about a central axis of the pulley wheel.

One of the first and second casings may include a spindle to which the pulley wheel is mounted for rotational movement about the central axis. In one embodiment of the invention, the second casing carries the spindle.

The first casing may include a pair of spaced apart side walls each of which extends partly around a periphery of the first casing thereby creating an opening at opposed ends of the first casing between the spaced apart side walls. Fitment of the pulley wheel on the spindle between the first and second casings allows a wire of one of the earphones to extend through the first casing between one of the two spaced apart side walls and a pulley wheel side.

The first and second casings may be secured to each other using a threaded member. The threaded member may also be used to secure one end of each of the three pulleys to the collar.

An opposed, second end up of each of the three pulleys may be secured to the second strip of material of the collar using a clip or snap button.

At least the first casing may include a number of spikes which anchors each pulley of the at least three pulleys onto the collar thereby to reduce the likelihood of pivotal rotation of each of the at least three pulleys when mounted to the collar about a longitudinal axis of the spindle.

The collar may include a storage cavity on each end of the collar which allows an earpiece of the one or more earphones to be stored onto the collar. Each earpiece of the one or more earphones may then be stored inside the respective storage cavity when the one or more earphones are moved to the storage positions.

The storage cavities may have an entrance which is on one side of the collar and an exit which is on an opposed, second side of the collar thereby allowing the wiring to extend through the collar.

The garment may further include an internal pathway or passage which allows the wiring connecting the portable electronic device with the earphones to be concealed inside the garment.

The internal pathway may have a maximum cross sectional diameter which varies along a length of the internal pathway thereby to form at least one organizing section in the internal pathway which has an entrance at one end and an exit at an opposed, second end. The entrance and exit each having a maximum cross sectional diameter which is less than a maximum cross sectional diameter of an intermediate section and whereby the intermediate section is capable of accommodating coiling of the wiring when opposed ends of the wiring are moved towards each other while the entrance and exit each restricts coiling of a section of the wire extending through the entrance and exit respectively.

The internal pathway may include at least two organizing sections.

The maximum cross sectional diameter of the intermediate section may be equal to the maximum cross sectional diameter of the internal pathway.

The maximum cross sectional diameter of each of the entrance and exit may be slightly greater than a maximum cross sectional diameter of an input connector of the wiring and with which the wiring is capable of being connected to the portable electronic device.

The internal pathway may include a storage pocket which is accessible from an outside of the garment and into which the wiring is pulled when the one or more earphones are moved from the extended position to the storage position.

The storage pocket may include an entrance through which an interior of the storage pocket is accessible.

The entrance may be openable and closable thereby to selectively allow access to the interior.

The entrance may include a zip fastener which includes a zipper which is movable between opposed ends of the zip fastener thereby to open or close the entrance.

The storage pocket may be positioned at an upper end of the pathway.

The storage pocket may include a storage pocket entrance which allows the wiring to extend from the outside of the garment into the internal pathway through the storage pocket.

The internal pathway may include a clamp mechanism which secures the wiring to the garment whereby the clamp mechanism is used to anchor the wiring to the garment after a user has determined a desired extended position for each of the one or more earphones and whereby the user of the garment is able to determine when each of the one or more earphones has been being moved to the extended position by pulling on the respective earphones until the wiring pulls on the clamp mechanism.

The clamp mechanism may include an upper section, a lower section, and a securing mechanism with which the upper and lower sections are capable of being detachably secured to each other.

The upper and lower sections may be manufactured from a material which fictionally engages with the wiring.

The clamp mechanism may be positioned inside the internal pathway adjacent the storage pocket whereby the wiring is anchored to the garment at a point which is next to a storage pocket exit.

The storage pocket may include a wire control guide which allows a user of the garment to readily locate and grip the wiring housed inside the storage pocket.

The wire control guide may include a first wire control point which is adjacent to the storage pocket entrance whereby the wiring extends directly from the storage pocket entrance to the first wire control point so that the user is able to locate and grip the wiring at the first wire control point when the user wishes to pull on the wiring to move the one or more earphones to the storage positions.

The wire control guide may include a second wire control point which is adjacent to the storage pocket exit and wherein the first and second wire control points are in close proximity to each other so that regardless of the extent of coiling of the wiring housed by the storage pocket, the user is able to locate and grip the wiring after the user has located the first and second wire control points.

The first and second wire control points may be positioned immediately below the entrance of the storage pocket whereby the user can really locate the first and second wire control points inside the storage pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention can be more readily understood the invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a garment according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation showing on an enlarged scale a collar of the garment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing on an enlarged scale a storage pocket of the garment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation showing a variation of the collar of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the collar showing in dotted outline the construction of storage cavities of the collar in which an earphone can be stored.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a pulley of a guide mechanism of the garment which is associated with the collar.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation showing the components of the pulley.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a variation of the pulley.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a clamp mechanism of the garment which is used to secure to the garment wiring connecting one or more earphones to a portable electronic device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation showing a wire control guide of the garment.

FIG. 11 shows a variation of the garment.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 of the accompanying representations illustrates a garment 10 according to the invention. The garment includes a body 12 including a collar 14 and two bottom pockets 16.

The body 12 is fabricated out of a variety of materials and/or a combination of a variety of materials including nylon, polyester, cotton, leather, microfiber, wool as well as fabric blends known by those skilled in the art.

Attached to the collar 14 is a guide mechanism 20 which includes five pulleys 22 each of which having a construction shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The collar is formed from a first strip of material 24 and a second strip of material 26 which extends from the first strip material and which is movable relative to the first strip of material thereby giving the collar a folded configuration 28 shown in FIG. 1. The guide mechanism 20 operates inside an inner cavity 30 which is formed between the first and second strips of material when the collar is in the folded configuration. It should be noted that the construction of the collar shown in FIG. 1 is used as an example and should not be seen as limiting. Accordingly, the collar can be constructed only from the first strip of material.

The collar 14 has a first end 34 and an opposed second end 36 each of which carries a storage cavity 38. The storage cavity is designed to allow earphones 40 which are connected with wiring 42 to a portable electronic device 44 stored inside one of the bottom pocket 16. The storage cavity is lined with a material which reduces friction. Referring in particular to FIG. 5, the storage cavity includes an entrance 48 which is positioned on an outer side 50 of the collar 14. An exit 52 of the storage cavity is positioned on an inner side 54 of the collar which defines the inner cavity 30. Thus, the inner cavity therefore extends from the outer side 50 to the inner side 54 of the collar thereby allowing the wiring 42 to extend through the collar.

Returning to FIG. 1, each of the earphones 40 is shown in a storage position 58 at which the earphone is stored on the collar 14. In the illustrated example a stem 60 of each earphone 40 is shown to be slotted into the storage cavity 38. However, as mentioned hereinabove, the storage cavities are designed to allow each of the earphones 40 to be completely inserted into a respective storage cavity and the illustration should not be therefore seen as limiting.

The garment 10 further includes an internal pathway 64 which extends from an upper position 66 of the garment to a lower position 68 which is adjacent the bottom pockets 16. The internal pathway includes a number of organizing sections 70 each of which includes an entrance 72 and an exit 74 which lie at opposed ends of an intermediate section 76. The internal pathway has a maximum cross sectional diameter 80 which varies from the upper position 66 to the lower position 68 across the organizing sections 70.

It should be noted that adjacent organizing sections 70 share a common restriction 82 so that an exit 74 of one organizing section will be an entrance 72 of a following organizing section.

The intermediate section 76 has a maximum cross sectional diameter 84 which is substantially equal to the maximum cross sectional diameter 80 of the internal pathway 64. However, the entrance 72 and the exit 74 has a maximum cross sectional diameter 86 which is less than the maximum cross sectional diameter 84 of the internal pathway. The maximum cross sectional diameter 86 is suitably chosen to allow an input connector 88 of the wiring 42 to pass through the entrance and exits.

The internal pathway 64 further includes a storage pocket 92 which in this example is shown to be positioned close to the upper position 66. However, this should not be seen as limiting as the position of the storage pocket can be altered according to requirement and can equally be positioned closer to the lower position 68.

The internal pathway 64 also includes a clamp mechanism 94 which is positioned below the storage pocket 92. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the storage pocket and the clamp mechanism. The storage pocket has an entrance 96 which is openable and closable using a zipper 98 of a zip fastener 100. In this Figure the zipper is shown to be moved to position at which the entrance is open thereby exposing an underlying wire control guide 104 which is positioned inside the storage pocket 92. The wire control guide includes a first wire control point 106 and a second wire control point 108.

The wiring 42 enters the storage pocket 92 through a storage pocket entrance 110 and exits the storage pocket through a storage pocket exit 112. The storage pocket entrance is positioned relative to the collar so that the wiring extends substantially directly from the inner cavity 30 to the storage pocket entrance. Thus, in this instance the storage pocket entrance has a dual function of being the entry point to the storage pocket as well as to the internal pathway 64. However, as is shown in FIG. 10, the internal pathway might have an internal pathway entrance 114 which is separate to the storage pocket entrance.

After entering the storage pocket 92, the wiring 42 extends through the first and second wire points 106 and 108 whereafter the wiring exits the storage pocket 92 through the storage pocket exit 112.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 3 and 9, the clamp mechanism 94 has upper and lower sections 118 and 120 and a securing mechanism 122 which is used to detachably secure to each other the upper and lower sections. The upper and lower sections are connected to each other at opposed ends 124 by sewing or using another suitable technique. In the illustrated example the lower section is secured to a portion 126 of fabric used in the fabrication of the internal pathway 64 so that the upper and lower sections of secured to the garment 10. The securing mechanism is in the form of a snap button 128 which includes male and female portions 130 and 132 each of which is secured respectively to the lower section 120 and the upper section 118. A passage 134 is defined between the upper and lower sections which allow the wiring 42 to pass in between the upper and lower sections. In the illustrated example the wiring is shown to consist of two separate wires 136 and 138 each of which passes on one side of the snap button 128 through the passage. It should be noted that the wires 136 and 138 can be joined to each other as is typically the case for wiring of earphones close to the input connector 88. The clamp mechanism can therefore the used on any section of the wiring 42.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate in greater detail the construction of the pulleys 22 of the guide mechanism 22 according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 illustrates a variation 22A of the pulley which is shown in use in FIG. 2.

The pulley 22 is constructed from a first casing 142, a second casing 144 and a pulley wheel 146. The first casing is in the form of a base of 148 which carries a pair of spaced apart side walls 150 each of which extends partly along a periphery 152 of the base. An opening 154 is defined at each end 156 of the base between the two spaced apart side walls. The base further includes a socket 158 which allows a free end 160 of a spindle 162 extending from the second casing to be registered with the socket. The spindle will therefore be anchored at both ends, i.e. at one end to the second casing and at an opposed end to the first casing through the socket, when the pulley is assembled as is shown in FIG. 6.

A bore 164 of the spindle 160 is threaded thereby allowing a fastener 166 to be threadedly engaged with the spindle. A free end 168 of each side wall 150 carries a stub 170 which is profiled to fit snugly into locating formations 172 of the second casing. The pulley wheel 146 has a passage 174 which extends on a central axis through the pulley wheel.

FIG. 6 shows an assembled pulley 22 secured to the first strip of material 24 of the collar 14. The fastener 166 is registered with a washer 178 whereafter the fastener is threadedly engaged with the threaded bore 164 of the spindle 162. Thus, a screw head 180 of the fastener is located on one side of the first strip of material with the first and second casings 142 and 144 enclosing the pulley wheel 146 located on an opposed side of the first strip of material. The base 148 carries a number of spikes 182 which dig into to the first strip of material as the fastener is tightened onto the spindle thereby reducing the likelihood of the first casing 142 rotating about the fastener. The second casing 144 is locked onto the first casing through the registering of the stubs 170 of the first casing with the locating formations 172 of the second casing. This interlocking between the first and second casings provides a rigid housing 184 within which the pulley wheel 146 can freely rotate about the spindle 162.

The pulley 22 is assembled by registering the fastener 166 with the socket 158 after the fastener has been fitted to the washer 178. The pulley wheel 146 is fitted to the second casing by slotting the spindle 162 into the passage 174. The wiring 42, in this instance the wire 138, is located on an outer groove 186 of the pulley wheel. The fastener is thereafter threadedly engaged with the bore 164 and is tightened to ensure a tight fit between the base 148 and the first of material 24. The washer 178 is dimensioned to provide a backing for the base and in particular a support for the spikes 182. The wiring 138 extends through the openings 154 so that longitudinal movement of the wire is assisted by rotational movement of the pulley wheel.

In use of the garment 10 a user, not shown, secures one of the wires 136 and 138 using the pulleys 22 to the collar 14 as is shown in FIG. 1. A respective earphone 40 is pushed through the respective storage cavity 38 so that the earphones are accessible from the outer side 50 of the collar 14. The input connector 88 is also fed through the internal pathway 64 from the storage pocket entrance 110 until exiting from an internal pathway exit 188. The wiring 42 is then capable of being electronically connected to the portable electronic device 44 positioned inside the bottom pocket 16. While wearing the garment 10 the user pulls the earphones until each earphone can be inserted into a respective ear of the user with a desired amount of play in the wiring 42 extending between the storage cavities 38 and the ears of the user. The user then secures the wiring to the garment through the clamp mechanism 94. It should be noted that the wiring extends through the storage pocket 92 in the manner described herein before so that the wiring is registered with the first and second wire control points 106 and 108.

After the user is finished using the earphones 40, the user moves the earphones from an extended position, at which the earphones are engaged with a respective ear of the user, to the storage positions shown in FIG. 1. This is achieved by accessing and pulling on the wiring 42 extending through the storage pocket 92. The locating of the wiring inside the storage pocket is assisted through the wire control guide 104 as the wiring extends through the first and second wire control points 106 and 108. Since the first and second wire control points are located immediately below the entrance 96, the user merely has to stick a finger through the entrance in order to correctly locate a portion of the wiring inside the storage pocket. The user then pulls on the wiring thereby retracting the earphones 40 to the storage positions 58 with the assistance of the guide mechanism 20. Thus, the wiring needed for the earphones to move from the storage positions to the extended positions is stored inside the storage pocket when the earphones are in the storage positions. Depending on requirement, the user may wish to totally hide the earphones. When this is required, the user merely pushes the earphones into the respective storage cavity 38 thereby to conceal the earphones inside the collar 14.

When the user wishes to use the earphones 40, the user retrieves the earphones from the storage cavities and pulls on the earphones thereby causing the wiring 42 to be drawn out of the storage pocket 92. The user can readily determine when the earphones have been moved to the extended positions when the earphones cannot longer be moved further away from the collar 14. It should be noted that the user has previously determined the correct operating lengths in wiring extending between the storage cavities and the ears of the user before securing the wiring to the garment through the clamp mechanism 94. Therefore, the examiner will immediately become aware once the earphones have been moved to the respective extended positions when the user no longer can pull the earphones further away from the garment when the wiring starts putting on the garment 10 through the clamp mechanism 94.

The inner cavity 30 and the internal pathway 64 including the storage pocket 92 are lined with a material which reduces friction which may be caused through the longitudinal movement of the wiring 42 inside these parts of the garment 10. This lining in combination with the guide mechanism 20 assists in the wiring 42 smoothly moving longitudinally inside these parts. Furthermore, the lining of the inner cavity in combination with the pulleys 22 of the guide mechanism assists the user in moving the earphones 40 without a great deal of difficulty between the storage and extended positions. The ease of movement inside the inner cavity also reduces the likelihood of the wiring tugging on the collar 14 when the earphones are moved between the storage and extended positions.

Long pieces of wiring often have the tendency to coil up when stored. Primarily the coiling of the wiring is caused through the rotating of the wiring about a longitudinal axis of the wiring or when a portion of the wiring be stuffed into a confined space. Coiling of the wiring increases the difficulty in managing the wire. At least these difficulties are aimed to be at least partly addressed by the construction of the storage pocket 92 and the internal pathway 64.

The organizing sections 70 of the internal pathway assist in reducing the likelihood of extended sections of the wiring 42 forming one coiling mass. Each entrance 72 and exit 74 of the organizing sections reduces the likelihood of the wiring extending through these parts forming a coil as the entrances and exits have been reduced maximum cross sectional diameter when compared to the intermediate sections 76. The increased maximum cross sectional diameter of the intermediate sections is more likely to accommodate the coiling of the wiring. However, since the internal pathway contains a number of organizing sections, the coiling of the wiring may occur in the number of different intermediate sections thereby reducing the likelihood of excessive coiling occurring in one part of the wiring.

As described hereinabove, stored inside the storage pocket 92 when the earphones are in the storage positions is the wiring 42 required to allow the earphones 40 to be moved from the storage positions to the extended positions. However, since the storage pocket is a confined space, the wiring housed inside the storage pocket would be prone to coiling. Furthermore, the user may decide to store other components of the user inside the storage pocket which could lead to the storage pocket becoming cluttered. The threading of the wiring through the first and second wire control points assists the user in readily locating the wiring inside the storage pocket. However, there is a further particular benefit in making use of the wire control guide 104 inside the storage pocket. The first and second wire control points allow the user to correctly identify a portion 192 of the wiring (see 10) which allows the user to pull the earphones further towards the storage positions 58. This could be required when the user initially only moved the earphones 40 partly towards the storage positions and the user subsequently wishes to move the earphones completely to the storage positions. When this happens the wiring already contained inside the storage pocket may make it difficult for the user to correctly identify what part of the wiring the user must grip in order to pull the earphones further towards the storage positions. Using the wire control guide 104 the user merely has to locate at least the first wire control point 106 in order to know that putting on the wiring extending downwardly from the first one control point will result in movement of the earphones 40 towards the storage positions.

FIG. 8 illustrates the pulley 22A which is, as mentioned hereinabove, a variation of the pulley 22. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components between the pulleys 22 and 22A. The fastener 166A is made to have a length so that an end 194 projects from the second casing 144. This allows a first part 196 of a snap pin to be secured to the end 194. Referring in particular to FIG. 2, a second part 198 of the snap pin is secured to a portion of the garment 10 which underlies the collar 14. Accordingly, some of the second parts will be secured on the first strip of material 24. This allows the pulleys 22A to be secured at both ends to the garment thereby increasing the rigidity of the collar. Thus, the integrity of the collar is improved by clipping the second strip of material 26 through the pulleys 22A onto the first of material 24 and adjacent parts of the garment. The improved integrity reduces the likelihood of the collar buckling when the wiring 42 is moved longitudinally inside the inner cavity 30.

FIG. 11 shows a variation 310 of the garment according to the invention. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components between the comments 10 and 310. In FIG. 11 the garment includes a pocket 312 which is positioned on the garment close to the upper position 66. This allows the portable electronic device 44 to be stored on the garment at a position which is adjacent to the storage pocket 314. The clamping mechanism 94 is positioned between the storage pocket 314 and the pocket 312 thereby allowing the wiring 42 to be still secured to the garment 310. However, the internal pathway 316 does not have the organizing sections. In this variation the use of the wire control guide 318 only has the first wire control point 106 which allows the user to readily determine which part of the wiring 42 the user has to grip in order to pull the earphones 40 towards the storage positions 58.

FIG. 4 illustrates a variation 14A of the collar. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components between the collar 14 and 14A. The guide mechanism 20 is mounted inside the collar 14A. Thus, the pulleys 22 of the guide mechanism 20 are not readily visible. The first and second strips of material 24A and 26A of fabricated from a number of layers which can be separated in order to access an internal collar cavity 202 which houses the guide mechanism 20. A collar base 204 is openable thereby to allow access to the internal collar cavity. This allows the wiring to be registered with the pulleys. The collar base is typically sealed using strips of Velcro™. The collar 14A further includes a number of snap pins 206 which allow the second strip of material 26A to be secured to the first strip of material 24A to improve the rigidity of the collar 14A. The layers used in the construction of the first and second strips of material may be lined on an inner side with a material which reduces friction thereby assisting the movement of the wiring through the collar.

Furthermore, the internal pathway and storage pocket may be lined on both sides with a friction reducing material thereby assisting in movement of the wiring 42 through these components. Such lining may assist in a user of the garment pulling the wiring 42 from the storage pocket for example when a safety belt is strapped over the storage pocket.

The invention provides a garment which allows a user to manage the wiring connecting one or more earphones to a portable electronic device. The garment includes a guide mechanism which is associated with a collar of the garment which assists in the movement of the wiring relative to the collar. Movement in the wiring is typically required to allow the earphones to move between an extended position, at which the earphones are engageable with ears of the user, and a storage position at which the earphones are stored on the collar. The garment further includes an internal pathway which includes a number of organizing sections which reduces the likelihood of a substantial portion of the wiring forming one coil. The internal pathway further includes a storage pocket which houses the wiring needed to allow the earphones to be moved from the storage positions to the extended positions. Once the user has measured a desired length of wiring required to extend from the storage pocket to the earphones attached to the ears of the user, the wiring is secured to the garment through a clamp mechanism thereby allowing the user in subsequent movements of the earphones from the storage to extended positions to readily determine when the earphones have been moved to the extended positions. The clamp mechanism therefore indicates to the user when the earphones have been moved to the extended positions by preventing further movement of wiring from the storage cavities carried by the collar. The storage pocket further includes a wide control guide which assists the user in readily locating and identifying a correct portion of the wiring required to move the earphones from the extended position to the retracted positions.

While we have described herein a particular embodiment of a garment for use with portable electronic devices connected with wiring to one or more earphones, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications which can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof are included within the scope of this invention. 

1. A garment for use with a portable electronic device connected with wiring to one or more earphones; the garment including a body having a collar; and wherein the collar includes a guide mechanism which extends at least partly along a length of the collar and which assists in movement of a wire connecting at least one of the earphones to the portable electronic device between an extended position at which the respective earphone is capable of being engaged with an ear of a user and a storage position at which the respective earphone is stored en in the collar; whereby the guide mechanism guides the movement of the wire relative to the collar thereby to cause the wire to be drawn in a predetermined path; wherein the guide mechanism extends from a first end of the collar to an opposed, second of the collar; and wherein the guide mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys which are secured at spaced apart locations along the length of the collar.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the positions of each of the plurality of pulleys are chosen in order to assist movement of a wire of one of the earphones to be drawn along the predetermined path adjacent the collar.
 5. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the collar is formed to have at least one strip of material; and wherein the at least one strip of material includes an outer side to which the at least three pulleys are secured; and wherein the outer side is lined with a material which reduces friction which may be caused by movement of the wires of the earphones across the outer side.
 6. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the collar is formed to have a first strip of material and a second strip of material which extends from the first strip of material and which is moved relative to the first strip of material so that the second strip of material lies adjacent the first strip of material thereby to create an inner cavity between the adjacent first and second strips of material; and wherein the guide mechanism operates inside the inner cavity.
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. A garment according to claim 1 wherein each of the at plurality of pulleys includes a first casing, a second casing, and a pulley wheel which is mounted between the first and second casings for rotational movement about a central axis of the pulley wheel; wherein one of the first and second casings includes a spindle to which the pulley wheel is mounted for rotational movement about the central axis; wherein the second casing carries the spindle.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. A garment according to claim 9 wherein the first casing includes a pair of spaced apart side walls each of which extends partly around a periphery of the first casing thereby creating an opening at opposed ends of the first casing between the spaced apart side walls; and wherein fitment of the pulley wheel on the spindle between the first and second casings allows a wire of one of the earphones to extend through the first casing between one of the two spaced apart side walls and a pulley wheel side.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. A garment according to claim 9 wherein at least the first casing includes a number of spikes which anchors each pulley of the plurality of pulleys onto the collar thereby to reduce the likelihood of pivotal rotation of each of the at least three pulleys when mounted to the collar about a longitudinal axis of the spindle.
 16. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the collar includes a storage cavity on each end of the collar which allows an earpiece of the one or more earphones to be stored onto the collar; and wherein each earpiece of the one or more earphones is stored inside the respective storage cavity when the one or more earphones are moved to the storage positions.
 17. A garment according to claim 16 wherein each of the storage cavities has an entrance which is on one side of the collar and an exit which is on an opposed, second side of the collar thereby allowing the wiring to extend through the collar and an internal pathway or passage allows the wiring connecting the portable electronic device with the earphones to be concealed inside the garment.
 18. (canceled)
 19. A garment according to claim 17 wherein the internal pathway has a maximum cross sectional diameter which varies along a length of the internal pathway thereby to form at least one organizing section in the internal pathway which has an entrance at one end and an exit at an opposed, second end; and wherein the entrance and exit each having a maximum cross sectional diameter which is less than a maximum cross sectional diameter of an intermediate section and whereby the intermediate section is capable of accommodating coiling of the wiring when opposed ends of the wiring are moved towards each other while the entrance and exit each restricts coiling of a section of the wire extending through the entrance and exit respectively.
 20. (canceled)
 21. A garment according to claim 17 wherein the internal pathway includes at least two organizing sections.
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. A garment according to claim 17 wherein the internal pathway includes a storage pocket which is accessible from an outside of the garment and into which the wiring is pulled when the one or more earphones are moved from the extended position to the storage position; and wherein the storage pocket includes an entrance through which an interior of the storage pocket is accessible; and wherein the entrance is openable and closable thereby to selectively allow access to the interior of the storage pocket.
 25. (canceled)
 26. (canceled)
 27. A garment according to claim 24 wherein the storage pocket is positioned at an upper end of the pathway; and wherein the storage pocket includes a storage pocket entrance which allows the wiring to extend from the outside of the garment into the internal pathway through the storage pocket.
 28. (canceled)
 29. A garment according to claim 27 wherein the internal pathway includes a clamp mechanism which secures the wiring to the garment whereby the clamp mechanism is used to anchor the wiring to the garment after a user has determined a desired extended position for each of the one or more earphones and whereby the user of the garment is able to determine when each of the one or more earphones has been moved to the extended position by pulling on the respective earphones until the wiring pulls on the clamp mechanism.
 30. (canceled)
 31. (canceled)
 32. A garment according to claim 29 wherein the clamp mechanism is positioned inside the internal pathway adjacent the storage pocket whereby the wiring is anchored to the garment at a point which is next to a storage pocket exit.
 33. A garment according to claim 32 wherein the storage pocket includes a wire control guide which allows a user of the garment to readily locate and grip wiring housed inside the storage pocket; and wherein the wire control guide includes a first wire control point which is adjacent to a storage pocket entrance whereby the wiring extends directly from the storage pocket entrance to the first wire control point so that the user is able to locate and grip the wiring at the first wire control point when the user wishes to pull on the wiring to move the one or more earphones to the storage positions.
 34. (canceled)
 35. A garment according to claim 33 wherein the wire control guide includes a second wire control point which is adjacent to a storage pocket exit and wherein the first and second wire control points are in close proximity to each other so that regardless of the extent of coiling of the wiring housed by the storage pocket, the user is able to locate and grip the wiring after the user has located the first and second wire control points.
 36. A garment according to claim 35 wherein the first and second wire control points are positioned immediately below an entrance of the storage pocket whereby the user can really locate the first and second wire control points inside the storage pocket.
 37. (canceled) 